Gary Dauberman is an American filmmaker and writer of the supernatural horror film Salem's Lot. The movie is based on Stephen King's 1975 novel of the same name. After two miniseries adaptations in 1979 and 2004, this is the book's first feature film adaptation.
On September 25, 2024, Salem's Lot premiered and arrived on Max on October 3, 2024. The film has drawn mixed reviews.
The story centers on a writer who returns to Salem's Lot, his hometown, in the hopes of finding inspiration. However, he quickly discovers that the town is being terrorized by a vampire.
The film stars Lewis Pullman, Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard, Bill Camp, John Benjamin Hickey, Jordan Preston Carter, Nicholas Crovetti, William Sadler, Pilou Asbæk, and Spencer Treat Clark.
Many lose allies, friends, and family members to the vampires as the story unfolds, showing how quickly things spiral out of control in the town. The ending leaves much to be desired, and by the time the film reaches its climax, a final battle is set to unfold.
Events that set the ending scene of Salem's Lot
Pullman plays Ben Mears, who returns to his childhood home of Jerusalem's Lot to find it overrun by a vampire named Kurt Barlow. The final showdown takes place at a drive-in cinema, where the vampires hide in the trunks of cars as the sun rises.
The next morning, Cody tries to kill the sleeping vampire but is shot by Anne Norton, now a follower of Barlow. As the sun sets, the vampires reawaken.
A group of vampires attacks Mears, who struggles to fend them off. Mark starts his car and lowers the screen at the drive-in, letting in sunlight that burns the vampires without obstruction. He then runs over Mrs. Norton with his car.
They save Mears, but they are too late to realize that Barlow's coffin is still in the truck. Before they can open it, Barlow grows stronger and flies out.
Why does Ben need to kill Susan in Salem’s Lot ending
Susan, who is Ben’s romantic interest in Salem’s Lot, is vampirized by the film's climax and attacks Ben. The final act largely consists of a physical confrontation between Ben and Susan. When the fight ends, Ben kills her by driving one of the chair legs through her chest.
Meanwhile, Mark is stalked by Barlow, who finds him hiding in the car park basement. Just before Barlow kills him, Ben sneaks up behind and kills Barlow by driving a stake through his mouth.
The film ends with Ben and Mark driving away from Salem's Lot.
How is Ben killing Susan in Salem’s Lot relevant to the books?
In the film, Ben initially asks Dr. Cody to kill Susan, saying he can't bring himself to do it because of his feelings for her. However, the plan goes awry when Dr. Cody is shot by Susan's mother, leaving Ben no choice but to kill Susan himself.
This moment is significant because, like in the book, Ben has endured a great deal of suffering in his life: his parents and wife have both died. Killing Susan represents a personal turning point, as he realizes that she, like his wife, is truly gone. This act helps him come to terms with loss and the reality of moving on.
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Salem’s Lot is currently available to stream exclusively on Max.
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